Glenn Astro - C.I.W. EP
Copenhagen’s Tartelet continues its 10th anniversary with another an EP in their Limited Edition Series. This one finds Glenn Astro serving up five exclusive tracks on the 12', while N.O.T.E. (Nelson of the East) delivers two bonus remixes for the digital release. The EP takes inspiration from Keith Haring’s celebrated Crack is Wack mural in New York, which was a reaction to the drug epidemic of the time. Only 250 copies will be released worldwide.
In a short space of time, Glenn Astro has cooked up his own unique musical world. He has released full-lengths on Ninja Tune alongside Max Graef, and recently on Apollo Rec, sister label of R&S, in conjunction with Hodini.
The opener ‘Crack Is Wack’ is a loose and live sounding jam with warm synth chords, alternating 808 drumpatterns and breaks. It has a celebratory feel as expressive keys and walking basslines take turns to take the lead and move things forwards. The feel good ‘Der Langweiler’ is a much slower and loveably lazy joint, incorporating a cosmic 808 drum groove mixed with arpeggiated Wurlizer chords and a grooving e-bassline sinking you deep into the late night groove.
On the flip and switching up the vibe again is ‘Der Maschine’, which has frazzled electronic synths next to wooden hits and a playfully distorted drum machine to make for something that brims and bristles with dance floor energy in inventive new ways. ‘Boring Times On Beleuse Five’ is a tripped out sci-fi track with percolating drums and heavenly chords. It’s sparse and dynamic but with a compelling rhythm. ‘Discomania’ is an exclusive and vinyl-only cover version of Piero Umiliani’s eponymous electronic disco classic, is a gorgeously spaced out disco instrumental with expressive keys, drums and percussion all adding up to something impossibly infectious.
N.O.T.E.’s (Nelson of the East) remix of ‘Crack is Wack’ flips the track into a cosmic jazz voyage of the highest order, while his take on ‘Discomania (Cover)’ is romantic and downbeat, with afro xylophone sounds bringing the heat.
This is another remarkable EP of effortlessly fused sounds, showcasing Glenn’s new steps exploring cosmic and electronically driven aesthetics.
